Advocates on both sides of the immigration debate said President Bush missed an opportunity in his State of the Union address Tuesday night to direct Congress on immigration reform, weeks before Senate lawmakers begin to tackle the divisive issue.

Breezing by the issue in just a few sentences, Bush endorsed a program that would allow foreigners to work temporarily in this country, saying the nation needs orderly and secure borders but that the economy couldn't function without immigrants.

His brief mention drew a disappointed rebuke from Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., who has led an effort to tighten the nation's borders and enforce immigration laws.

Bush could have "broken the Washington stalemate and secured the most significant immigration reform in a decade," Tancredo said.

Angela Kelley, deputy director of the pro-immigrant National Immigration Forum, also said Bush fell short. "It's really important for him to step up and provide some leadership on this issue," she said.

Senators are expected to take up immigration legislation in the coming weeks.

Immigration has featured heavily in Bush's State of the Union speeches in past years. But with his own party deeply divided over the issue, he devoted just over a paragraph to the subject Tuesday.

Still several lawmakers praised Bush.

Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, said he was pleased Bush "called for an immigration system that deals with the influx of illegal immigrants realistically. Now it's time for both the House and the Senate to rise to the president's challenge and enact meaningful, comprehensive immigration reform."

How to deal with the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country now _ and the thousands crossing the border each year _ has divided Congress and is becoming an increasingly volatile issue at the state and local level.

Even non-border states are wrestling with how to provide government services, such as health care, to illegal immigrants and whether to restrict drivers' licenses and withhold benefits to illegal workers.

Jennifer Allen, who directs the Border Action Network, based in Tucson, Ariz., said immigrants she works with are watching anxiously as Congress talks about building walls at the Mexican border and increasing the penalties for being in the country illegally.

She and other advocates are loudly calling for Congress to fix the nation's troubled immigration system.

This summer, Democratic Govs. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Janet Napolitano, of Arizona declared a state of emergency in their border counties to free up money for immigration-related needs.

Richardson said Bush's brief mention in the State of the Union was a signal the White House would not make it a major issue in the coming months.

"The message I received is that on immigration, we're going to leave the burden on the states like New Mexico and Arizona, and it's sort of like 'You're on your own,'" Richardson said.

In the Senate, Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., have proposed programs that regulate when and how immigrants can come to the U.S.

Kyl said Tuesday that he would have liked to hear more from Bush about immigration, but he was glad "the key elements were there" in his speech.

"It is a very serious problem for Arizona," Kyl said. "I think everyone in the Senate wants to get something done ... whether the president mentions it or not."

How about "guest workers" come from countries whose people have not violated our borders? I always invite people to my home who have shown me and mine courtesy and respect for not having trashed it or broken in before.

King Jorge is at it again with his nonsense about allowing illegals to have any status here other than illegal.

We raised hades with the House in November and December and even got a lot of Dims to vote a great set of laws in.

Now that law is handed over to the Senate who will come up with their own version.

The Senate is going to get an earfull, just like the House did.

Please join www.numbersusa.com and help in this grass roots effort to stop the illegal immigration or any kind of so call guest worker program.

We lambasted the House with over 175 thousand calls, letters and faxes every day! Believe me, it works.

The most humane thing we could do with the illegals is send them home. The economy does not need them and politicians who are hoping to give them citizenship in exchange for a vote are in for a rude awakening.

"Keeping America competitive requires an immigration system that upholds our laws, reflects our values, and serves the interests of our economy. Our nation needs orderly and secure borders. (Applause.) To meet this goal, we must have stronger immigration enforcement and border protection. (Applause.) And we must have a rational, humane guest worker program that rejects amnesty, allows temporary jobs for people who seek them legally, and reduces smuggling and crime at the border."

21
posted on 02/01/2006 12:23:05 PM PST
by dixiechick2000
(There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators. ~~ Will Rogers)

Advocates on both sides of the immigration debate said President Bush missed an opportunity in his State of the Union address Tuesday night to direct Congress on immigration reform, weeks before Senate lawmakers begin to tackle the divisive issue.

IMO, the State of the Union address is one moment in time, where the President has a certain amount of time to address issues that face our country. Time constraints limit the amount of dialogue a President can give on any one issue. It seems to me that the SOTU address summarizes those issues and where our President stands on those issues. I'm sure that President Bush will be "directing Congress on immigration reform", but I do not believe he had to explain every fine detail to them in his SOTU address. He stated his opinions on Immigration very clearly, but apparently not some of our Senators seem to think that this was the only chance they had to get their "homework". LOL

23
posted on 02/01/2006 12:24:09 PM PST
by Chena
(I'm not young enough to know everything.)

You know who we never see on these immigration threads? -- farmers who have to get their crops harvested and to market before they rot. When I start seeing regular Americans lining up to work in the fields of America, I'll be convinced that some sort of guest worker program isn't necessary.

27
posted on 02/01/2006 12:27:02 PM PST
by My2Cents
(In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. -- George Orwell)

Illegals are not immigrants, they are criminals, an should be subject to a far greater scrutiny then other candidates who have demonstrated their willingness to patiently abide by our laws. The President is dead wrong in his characterization of the issue.

34
posted on 02/01/2006 12:30:59 PM PST
by ARCADIA
(Abuse of power comes as no surprise)

And it took us five years and many bribes to get official residency (no green card or citizenship, of course) in Mexico. (I didn't pay the bribes, but the company lawyer did--he had to or else the permits never would have been issued).

You folks can just give up and go home. You heard Bush. He practically wagged his finger at you and said you're being a bad citizen if you criticize illegal immigration. You heard the man, the economy would grind to a halt without em.

So grab your IUD, morning after pill or abortion on demand and rest comfortable in the knowledge this government is going to make up the shortfall in reproduction numbers one way or another. The go go economy DEMANDS IT.

Each employer who hires a guest worker will be given a "must terminate" date. As long as each visa is tied to a specific employer then the person will be tracked.

Overstayes will be ineligible for future work visas.

Who tracks the "guest worker" after the job ends? Who tracks and makes certain that the visa overstays leaves the country? My point is where is the guarantee that these workers actually leave our country.

You know who we never see on these immigration threads? -- farmers who have to get their crops harvested and to market before they rot.

Yeah, they're pretty happy with the status quo. Tell you what. You start paying all your little mexicans minimum wage and withholding the proper payroll and income taxes, or you go to jail. How's THAT for immigration reform.

Hiring illegals any other way is fraud, illegal labor practices, and tax cheating. Period, end of. Spin that, pennies.

You know who we never see on these immigration threads? -- farmers who have to get their crops harvested and to market before they rot. When I start seeing regular Americans lining up to work in the fields of America, I'll be convinced that some sort of guest worker program isn't necessary.

You know what I never see in these posts?

Logic from OBL-ers who on one hand claim we can't deport all the illegals here...then demand we bring in more to do those "Farm" jobs that the illegals already here won't do any more...they have moved on to Carpentry, Plumbing, Masonry etc.!

Meanwhile the Labor Unions do everything they can to obstruct automation for a LOT of the Farm Industry!

So when does this OBL free-for-all end? When will you idiots ever learn?

It's all about the Slaver Labor market, and Industries being able to depress wages to lower their overhead...those savings aren't passed on to the consumer, btw!

So, you all are full of excrement...and we see what Uncle Jorge has in store for Americans...

"Ahead Sell-Out Factor 10, Mr. Chertoff!"

42
posted on 02/01/2006 12:39:18 PM PST
by Itzlzha
("The avalanche has already started...it is too late for the pebbles to vote")

Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, said he was pleased Bush "called for an immigration system that deals with the influx of illegal immigrants realistically. Now it's time for both the House and the Senate to rise to the president's challenge and enact meaningful, comprehensive immigration reform."

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